Stress-Free Travel: Guide on How to Pack Before the Long Trip
Packing can be a daunting task for many, often inducing anxiety as the departure date approaches. I hear a lot that some people meticulously start packing a week in advance, while others, like myself, tend to leave everything until the last minute. However, there’s no need to fret. With a well-thought-out plan and some helpful tips, packing can become an easier and more predictable process. In this blog post, I outline how to pack efficiently, whether you’re a last-minute packer or someone who prefers a more organized approach. I packed for dozens of trips, long and short, and my golden rule is avoiding overpacking. I think the more you travel the more fearless you become, because traveling teaches you to solve different problems. At the end of the day, the most important thing to pack is money and documents.
1. Planning Ahead
It’s essential to plan ahead. There is no doubt about it. Creating a checklist and setting a timeline for your preparation can help ensure a smooth departure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting ready for your trip.
a. Days Before the Trip
Any Day Prior: Begin your pre-trip preparation by creating something like a list and putting there items that come to your head, even things that are not obviously useful. For example, sometimes I put in small cold bags for my African travel. When we are going for self-drives in parks, cooler bags will allow us to take food and drinks and keep them cold. Insulated bags are not something I can easily remember when packing essentials, so putting them on a list helps me remember things like that.
Week Before: Usually I do some personal grooming tasks. If you are a guy this will be different, but in the last week before departure I do a pedicure, epilation, and such. Or sometimes I schedule it in the arrival country. Thanks to online scheduling, you can get your haircut, massage, and manicure in another country. This will also save you a lot of money, because a massage in Namibia would cost around 40-50 USD.
For the Tech-Savvy: If you’re a gadget enthusiast, this is the time to update playlists on your phone, check that all your devices are charged and in working order, and ensure you have the necessary chargers and accessories packed.
2 Days Prior: Focus on housekeeping chores like cleaning, laundry, and tidying up your living space. I’m trying to make sure all of my obligations are handled. I know it sounds weird, but I need to put my mind at rest, make sure I returned books, have no food left in the fridge, emptied the trash, and let my neighbors and friends know that I will be gone. I’m not starting anything new and not shopping.
1 Day Prior: Tackle last-minute tasks like a manicure, charging devices, and collecting and printing your itinerary. Check for any changes or new requirements. At this point, there is still time to make fixes if something changed.
b. The Day of Departure
Now that you’ve prepared in the days leading up to your trip, the final day before departure should be less stressful. Here’s a checklist for your last-minute tasks:
1. Self-Care: Dedicate time for a thorough shower and grooming routine. I love to fly fresh, and I hope everyone does.
2. Household Tasks: Ensure that your home is in order. Water your plants, leave clear instructions for a cat sitter if needed, and check that all appliances and utilities are turned off.
3. Itinerary Check: Reconfirm your travel plans, especially in today’s dynamic travel environment. Look for any updates or changes in COVID requirements and flight schedules.
4. Final Packing: This should be easy, since you probably already have a list of do-not-forget items, and your personal items are easier to pack.
2. The Art of Packing
Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter — packing efficiently. I use a mental map and start from my feet: shoes, socks, undergarments, underwear, tops, outerwear, and outer gear for self-drive tourism. Then I move upward: hairbrush, shampoo and conditioner, face cleansers, eye care, skin care, and so on. This mental body map helps me gather everything I need without too much effort.
Follow these steps to make sure your suitcase is well organized:
a. Clothing Selection: Choose versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits. This reduces the number of clothes you need to bring. Try to plan laundry en route and think about how many days you will have to go without it. For example, if you are planning a long 20-day trip and can find laundry every 5 days, you only need to pack 5 days’ worth of clothes and do laundry during the trip. This is much better than taking an unplanned and unmatched amount of clothes.
b. Roll or Fold: Depending on your preference, you can either roll or fold your clothes. Rolling saves space and minimizes wrinkles, while folding can help with organization.
c. Packing Cubes: Invest in packing cubes to keep your items neatly separated and easily accessible. They can also help compress your clothes, saving space. I also use a lot of reusable bags. I have many of those from different stores, and I use them to separate my tops, bottoms or underwear, so things in the hotel do not get mixed with the rest of my stuff.
d. Toiletries: Use travel-sized containers for lotions and store them in a clear, resealable bag to comply with airline regulations. I have everything ready, and I use a lot of bar products: shampoo bars, body soaps in soap bags, and facial soaps. This helps me keep only small bags with very few bottles. I also take a lot of samples from stores and use them. I love buying cosmetics from other countries, too. This is, of course, maybe not suitable if you have any allergies or a very precise skincare routine. I also discover that hanging toiletries bags are awesome, especially for one night hotel stays.
e. Valuables: Keep important documents, electronics, and valuables in your carry-on bag to ensure they stay safe and easily accessible. Also make sure all your important items are downloaded on your phone, so you can use them without internet.
f. Leave Room for Souvenirs: If you plan to shop during your trip, leave some extra space in your suitcase to accommodate any souvenirs or purchases. You can take some gifts for outbound travel, and once you give them away, you will have space for new things.
Packing for a trip doesn’t have to be a source of stress. By following a well-structured plan, preparing in advance, and using smart packing techniques, you can make the process smoother and more efficient. Whether you’re a last-minute packer or someone who likes to plan meticulously, these tips will help you enjoy a stress-free travel experience from start to finish. So pack your bags with confidence and get ready to embark on your next adventure.
And if you need help planning your next adventure, One Big Planet can help. We offer a trip planning service, so you can save time and money.